Main line (railway)
Encyclopedia
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards
, sidings
and spurs are connected.
It generally refers to a route between towns, as opposed to a route providing suburban or metro services. For capacity reasons, main lines in many countries will at a minimum be double track
ed, and will often contain multiple parallel tracks.
Mainline tracks are typically operated at higher speeds than branch lines, and are generally built and maintained to a higher standard than yards and branch lines.
Railroad switches (points in the UK) are usually set in the direction of the main line by default. Failure to do so has been a factor in several fatal railway accidents, for example the Buttevant Rail Disaster
in Ireland, and the Graniteville train disaster
in the US.
Mainlines may also be operated under shared access by a number of railway companies, with sidings and branches operated by private companies or single railway companies.
In the UK, the term "Mainline" may also be used to distinguish any train or track that is not part of a light-rail or Underground network.
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
, sidings
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
and spurs are connected.
It generally refers to a route between towns, as opposed to a route providing suburban or metro services. For capacity reasons, main lines in many countries will at a minimum be double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
ed, and will often contain multiple parallel tracks.
Mainline tracks are typically operated at higher speeds than branch lines, and are generally built and maintained to a higher standard than yards and branch lines.
Railroad switches (points in the UK) are usually set in the direction of the main line by default. Failure to do so has been a factor in several fatal railway accidents, for example the Buttevant Rail Disaster
Buttevant Rail Disaster
Buttevant Rail Disaster was a train crash that occurred 137 miles from Heuston Station on the Dublin to Cork mainline at Buttevant Railway Station, County Cork in the Republic of Ireland on 1 August 1980. At 12:45 the 10:30am Dublin to Cork express train entered Buttevant station carrying some...
in Ireland, and the Graniteville train disaster
Graniteville train disaster
The Graniteville train disaster was an American rail disaster that occurred on January 6, 2005, in Graniteville, South Carolina.At roughly 2:40 am Eastern Standard Time, two Norfolk Southern trains collided near an Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville. Norfolk Southern train No. P22 was parked on...
in the US.
Mainlines may also be operated under shared access by a number of railway companies, with sidings and branches operated by private companies or single railway companies.
In the UK, the term "Mainline" may also be used to distinguish any train or track that is not part of a light-rail or Underground network.